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Overview

Dylan makes a run for the border, courtesy of this surprising disc of hard-bitten love songs. Recorded with his road band and thick with South Texas ambience -- pedal steel, fiddle, accordion, and mandolin -- Together Through Life grew organically from the ballad "Life Is Hard," written for the film My Own Love Song, from director Olivier Dahan (La Vie en Rose). The ten original songs ("Jolene" is not Dolly Parton's hit) were produced by Dylan under his pseudonym Jack Frost.

Technical Credits

Editorial Reviews

Produced, like his last two albums, by Dylan alter ego ''Jack Frost,'' it prominently features south-of-the-border-style accordion (courtesy of Los Lobos' David Hidalgo) throughout, which handsomely frames the guitar playing of Tom Petty sideman Mike Campbell. [B-]

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

I like the photo on the cover because when this album first came out I listened to it over and over on my way to and from work which involved a 25 min drive on the highway - before the sun was up - then when it was going down. As a blues album it has that road feel to it -not unlike his very first album. It's fun to alternate listening to the two albums. The only qustion I have is what are we going to do when guys like Bob Dylan and Johnny Winter die. They are our among the last of our living connection to the blues legends of the past. That's why I treasure everything they turn out. In that regard, if you like this album you should definitely check out Johnny Winter's latest ("Roots") which is along the same lines and which I think I would rate slightly higher than "Through Life".

Timhrk

More than 1 year ago

Dim light. The border town cafe is tacky and dingy but at least it's clean. You've been hanging out in this place for as long as you can remember. Smoking is still allowed. There's the smell of smoke mixed in with the aromas of whiskey, tequila and beer. The talk becomes a whisper when the band meanders on the stage. The accordion player is new, you recognize the guitarist. The familiar voice of the singer is rougher than ever, but he's as happy to see the crowd as the crowd is to see him. "Together Through Life" is Bob Dylan's most atmospheric album. He enlisted Robert Hunter, the Grateful Dead Lyricist and writing partner of Jerry Garcia and quickly recorded this inspired collection of songs. David Hilgado, from the great Los Lobos, plays accordion, giving the same sort of inventive and distinctive texture that Al Kooper's organ gave "Blonde on Blonde" or Scarlet Rivera's violin gave "Desire." Dylan then traverses back to his more usual landscape of American blues. Dylan's most recent records, "Modern Times" and "Love & Theft," feature an accomplished mosaic of styles-rock and roll, crooner ballads, and various iterations of blues. "Together Through Life" is also a pastiche, although the blues predominate. The accordion and lonesome lyrics about love amidst desolation augment the end-of-the-line, border town, feel while also exploring the rarely acknowledged common ground of Tex-Mex music and Blues. It's pretty hard to claim at this point Dylan is redefining his career. He's done that a few times already, so many times that the redefinition is irrelevant. Few have had such a long and fruitful run-since about 1963-and he's still writing and performing in ways that are challenging and uncompromising. The last twelve years or so has been one of his most sustained and richest periods of creativity. There's a whole bunch of fans now more excited for new Dylan than to hear the legend's latest rendition of "Like A Rolling Stone."
Clearly, Dylan is having a lot of fun and he is expressing that fun with a refreshingly cordial wit. Rarely has he been so inviting, And, almost as rarely, he has an audience willing to be invited, willing to appreciate without precondition his latest muse. In the Tex-Mex spiced blues ballad, "This Dream of You," he sings "in an all night cafe, as night turns into day." Anyone who wants to be in that cafe is in that cafe and having a wonderful time.Please visit: Timothyherrick.blogspot.com

babyman

More than 1 year ago

Sorry, just couldn't listen to this one. I'm getting old and recognize the signs of decay.

Celtic-Mason

More than 1 year ago

Dylan has been getting raspier and grainier in the past years and has switched his style somewhat but it's a welcome progress as he is still cranking out great, listenable tunes with memorable lyrics and dry humor. This is the perfect disc to play in the shade with a beer in your hand to just kick back get mellow. I like the slight cajun flavor in some of the tracks where it's hard to keep the foot from tapping. I have every one of Dylan's albums and will continue to collect them as they come out because there is no doubt that he is one of the Great American Classics who continues to put his individual stamp on American music like no one else can.

Adrian_A

More than 1 year ago

One of the top Dylan's albums

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Certainly lighter in tone than Modern Times, Together Through Life still finds a way to shine new light onto the American landscape. Sounding a bit like a honky tonk band playing as if their lives depended on their music, Dylan and company give us 10 new songs of romance, lust, and greed. A highlight is My Wife's Home Town, with Dylan sounding like the ghost of an old bluesman.

woodytele1973

More than 1 year ago

Another interesting album from Dylan. This album sounds like a cross between an old Muddy Waters album and Hank Williams. It is very old school with a 1950's sound. A definite must have for any Dylan fan.

bluessnob

More than 1 year ago

Not as good as Modern Times, but still a decent Dylan work...

coloradomichele

More than 1 year ago

The man in poetry in human form. Great album.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Has all the character of recent Dylan music - soul-searching, thoughtful and insightful. Belongs in any serious Dylan collection.

sticksnsstones

More than 1 year ago

On this album, Dylan adopts a bluesy approach as he takes a bittersweet look at the world around him, from the point of view of someone who's seen it all. As you might expect, he doesn't like everything he sees. But he's not full of despair, either. He's having a great time as he sings about the human condition in his growly voice. Love the addition of David Hidalgo's accordion.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Another great Bob Dylan album. After a first listening, I thought it was good, but not great. But after repeated listenings, it really grows on you. The songs are great and I would rank the album as equal in high quality, but with a different sound, to Modern Times.

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